Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is the large and considered Japan's best aquarium. It is located in Ocean Expo Park, Okinawa. The attraction in Ocean Expo Park is not only this aquarium, also has Tropical & Subtropical Arboretum, Tropical Dream Center, Traditional Okinawa Village and Omoro Arboretum, Oceanic Culture Museum, Planetarium. I visited only aquarium because I bought a day tour and had only 3 hours there. You may spend time here for a whole day as there are many attractions. If you visit Expo Park on sunny day, please bring umbrella / hat / sunglasses.
Access (Ref: Ocean Expo Park)
By Bus
Travel Time varies between approximately two hours twenty minutes and three and a half hours from Naha Airport. There are 2 ways to visit Ocean Expo Park from Naha Airport by bus.
1. If you take the Yanbaru Express Bus/Okinawa Limousine Bus, you can go to the aquarium without transferring.
2. Whether you take an expressway bus or a regular bus, you will need to transfer at Nago Bus Terminal.
*Get off at “Kinen Koen Mae” bus stop
Bus Timetable
Ocean Expo Park Map (Click for larger map)
Ocean Expo Park is hugh park. I agree that this is the best aquarium in Japan. You can see beautiful ocean view. Please remember where you park the car because there are many entrance gates. Click here for parking lot map. It takes time a little bit to walk from parking to aquarium (10 minutes approximately). If you take a bus, please check bus timetable carefully (only 1-2 bus / hour). You can join the event which will be held at each facility (Event schedule).
The colorful flowers in front of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Admission Fee
Adult 1,850 yen
High School Student 1,230 yen
Elementary and Middle School Student 610 yen
Under 6 years old free
Discount Coupon Choose Map / Coupon
Adult 1,660 yen
High School Student 1,110 yen
Elementary and Middle School Student 550 yen
Opening Hours:
Oct - Feb 08:30 - 18:30 *Last admission is 17:30
Mar - Sep 08:30 - 20:00 *Last admission is 19:00
The amount of tourists during the weekends is more than the weekdays. Selfie Stick is prohibited. The first area "Life in the inoh" , you can see and touch starfish and sea cucumbers.
The Coral Sea
The Sea of Tropical Fish
The highlight of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium; The Kuroshio Sea. You can see whale sharks, manta rays and other fish from this room and another room. There is a cafe on 1st floor in this room (Ocean Blue Cafe) as the bottom of below photo. You can enjoy your food while watching the fish but the seats are quite limited and price seems high.
The souvenir shop is near the exit gate. If you would like to re-enter on the same day, the staff will stamp on your hand (at exit gate).
It's lunch time! There are restaurants but not many and the price varies. I recommend this "オキちゃんパーラー (Okichan Parlor)" It's food & drinks shop. The price is acceptable and menu is ok. There are other restaurants which you can check the location from the map.
If you stand same as below photo, the shop is on your right side and go straight.
FYI, Inoh restaurant (lunch buffet) is on 4th floor. You can enjoy the ocean view and food. Lunch buffet is available from 11:00 a.m.
Price
Adults (junior high school students and older) 1,512 yen
Elementary school students 885 yen
Children ages 3-5 597 yen
Seniors ages 65 and older 1,183 yen
Here is the menu. Sorry for shaking photo because I was hungry. The menu is available in Japanese, Chinese and English. The price already includes VAT. You can pick up the menu and go to counter for ordering food. FYI, may be long queue around noon and 1-2 p.m. but waiting time for food is not much. Drinking water is free. The toilets are near the shop.
I saw many hibiscus in various colors in Okinawa.
Bus sightseeing in Ocean Expo Park.
One-way ticket: 100 yen
One day excursion ticket: 200 yen
Please see the bus route as the above map
Dolphin Show (Okichan Theater) It's free!
Times 11:00 / 13:00 / 14:30 / 16:00 / 17:30*
*only as for from April to September
Access
5 minutes’ walk from the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium exit.
Get off at “3. Okichan Theater” if using the Trolley (tour car).
The show takes 20 minutes. Please arrive prior at least 20-30 minutes otherwise seats are unavailable and must stand (like me).
There are other free show programs.
- Diver Show (Okichan Theater) (15 minutes)
Times 11:50 / 13:50 / 15:30
- Dolphin Observation (Dolphin Lagoon) (15 minutes)
Times 10:00 / 11:30 / 13:30 / 15:00
If you have time, you can enjoy other attractions in Ocean Expo Park.
Opening Hours:
Mar - Sep 08:30 a.m.- 07:00 a.m. (Last Admission 06:30 p.m.)
Oct - Feb 08:30 a.m.- 05:30 a.m. (Last Admission 05:00 p.m.)
Tropical Dream Center
Admission Fee
Adult 690 yen
High School Students 690 yen
Elementary, Middle School 210 yen
Under 6 years old Free
Oceanic Culture Museum
Admission Fee
Adult 170 yen
High School Students 170 yen
Elementary, Middle School 50 yen
Under 6 years old Free
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